Device for the evaporation of liquids and in the drying of substances



C. R. IVIABEE.

DEVICE FOR THE EVAPORATION 0F LIQUIDS AND IN THE DRYING 0F SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I5. I913- RENEWED MAR. I, I919- 1,43 3,141. Patented 0 ct.24,1922.

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CHARLES R. MABEE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR THE EVAPORATION OF LIQUIDS AND IN THE DRYING OF SUBSTANCES.

Application filed December 15, 1913, Serial No. 806,890. Renewed March 1, 1919. Serial No. 280,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. MABnn, of the city of Toledo, county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for the Evaporation of Liquids and in the Drying of Substances; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact de-- scription of the same.

This invention relates to the evaporation of water from solutions and mixtures and to the drying of substances by the combined action of heat and outward pressure upon the solutions, mixtures or substances operated upon against heated surfaces as a result of rotary motion applied thereto, the means for effecting said rotary motion being flexible in character and adjusting itself to the conformation of the heated surface upon which it may rest as a result of the action of gravity, or against which it may be forced as a result of said rotary moton, or adjacent to which it may travel as a result of the combined action of gravity and said rotary motion.

To enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawing, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved device, Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same showing the revolving arm, Figure 3 is a similar view with the arm removed. showing the revolving conveyor members, Figure 4 is a plan view of the cover, Figure 5 is a detail view of the depending conveyors, Figure 6, shows an alternative form of the receiver.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l is the container of general hollow hemispherical form, surmounted by a flat cover 2 having hingedly connected sections 18, and surrounded by a steam jacket 3, provided with a steam inlet 4 and a steam outlet 5. Centrally of the base of the receiver, a vertical tube 6, inte ral with said receiver, is provided, said to e being open to the atmosphere and provided at its upper extremity, with an outwardly flanged extension 7. A suitable frame 8 supports an arm 9 which provides a bearing for a vertical shaft 10, coaxially disposed with reference to the receiver 1 and driven by the pulley The cover 2 receives the shaft 10 through a steam tight stufling box 20, properly fitted within the circular aperture 20, centrally of the cover. Upon the lower extremity of the shaft 10, a fan arm 12, extending diametrically of the upper rim of the receiver, is rigidly secured. At the outer extremities of the fan arm 12 are chalns formed of a plurality of l nks, from which depend flexible members 21, hereinafter more fully described, the free ends of said members being connected by similar links to a loose collar 13, at oppositely disposed points 14 and 15. An outlet pipe 16, opening through the-walls of the tube 6 and provided with a valve 17, aflords one means for the withdrawal of the finished product.

The members 21 comprise a hollow flexible tube, the upper extremity of each tube, two being preferably employed, being loosely secured to the respective outer extremities of the fan arm 12 by the links, whereas, the lower endsare loosely secured to opposite sides of the ring 13, revolving aboutthe lower part of the vertical tube 6, under the impulse of the fan arm 12. The interior of the tubular members 21 is weighted by means of shot or other loose material, to the required degree of heaviness.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The liquid or substance to be treated hav- 111g been introduced within the container either directly through an inlet pipe or the like, such as illustrated in that embodiment of my invention disclosed in my application Serial No. 806,888, filed concurrently with this application, or by raising one of the cover hinged sections 18, after proper motion has been imparted to the fan arm 12, said liquid or substance has communicated to it, through the flexible members 21, a rotary motion in the direction of the rotation of fan arm 12, said flexible members being forced by gravity and by centrifugal force into constant contact with the curved surface of the container, whereby to conform to the curvature thereof. An outlet for the gas and vapor of evaporation is afforded through the vertical tube 6, rigidly supported in an aperture centrally of the base of the container; The shaft 10 is adapted to be driven in either direction accordingly as it is desired to force the vapor upwardly or downwardly.

When the water has been sufiiciently extracted from the liquid or substance, said liquid or substance may be removed through the outlet 16, controlled by the valve 17, or through the cover 18.

In Figure 6, is shown an alternatlve form of the device, constructed without the ver-- tical tube 6, in which the gas and vapor of evaporation are allowed to pass upwardly and outwardly through the open top of the container. In this form of my device, the

container is maintained .in upright position by means of supports 18, conveniently disposed externally of the bottom of said container.

Among the advantages accuring from the use of the flexible arms employed in this device are, that they prevent casem and other substances from adhering to the heated surface and thereby render the device more easily cleaned and enable a largenainount ofwater to be removed from the liquld or substance operated upon, owing to the fact that anything adhering to a heated surface in an evaporating device, retards the transmission of heat from the heating surface to'the liquid or substance operated upon.

. While the construction set out is excellently adapted for the employment of my invention in practice, I do not limit myself to the details, as they may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be seen that as an evaporating or condensing apparatus, in contradistinction from a mere fluid exhauster or tempering device or pasteurizing mechanism, my mechanism is characterized by the presence of elements and b Y a construction and relative arrangement 0 parts such that a large body of fluid can be rapidly treated in such way that its water component will with great rapidity be transformed into steam, vapor and gas, and that these can be as rapidly withdrawn and discharged. For this purpose the exhausting apparatus is co-related with a relatively widely enlarged escape opening, the cross area being many times greater than that of the discharge pipe.

Some materials are of such nature that the vapors and gases which are released can to advantage be forced downward by devices related as are those shown in Fig. 1.

If it is not desired to have the interior of the container in free communication with the outer air the upper chamber of the casing can be closed as shown in Figs. 1 and 4; and in such case there will be a tendency to some what lower the pressure on the interior when the gas driving devices are forcing it through the downwardly directed discharge passage.

In the case of other material the released vapors and gases have more of a tendency to rise somewhat, and at such times an arrangement of exhausting devices, such as in Figs. 2 and 5, is used, by which the gases are forced rapidly upward through the upper chamber and the spider at the top The members 21 are in many respects similar to the bars Ser. No. 806,888, filed December 15, 1915, they being normally positioned close to and approximately parallel with the substantially unbroken and continuous inner surface of the container.

In the present application as distinguished from. my copending application Serial No. 806,888 (renewed as Serial No. 358,433), it will be observed that the are of flexible material throughout, whereby they may yield upon themselves at any point and readily conform at all points throughout the conveyor to the surface of the container, thereby presenting flexible wiping edges throughout, and I do not claim herein any subjects-matter claimed in Y the said copending application, nor in my other copending applications, Serial No. 40; 757, filed July 19, 1915, or 77,996, filed February 12, 1916, wherein claims are presented broadly to the means and mechanism of maintaining a treating surface free from adhering particles of material, while there is maintained a moving layer or film of material on the treating surface. This treating surface in the invention disclosed in the said applications 40,757 and 77,996, takes the form of an elongated tube, as distinguished from a hemispherical container such'as illustrated herein.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claimis- 1. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a hemispherical container, means for applying heat to the outer convex surface of said container, flexible means adapted to be moved bodily from end to end outwardly into contact with the surface of the container and to adjust itself when flexing to the conformation of the interior surface of the sides of the container for applying motion to the contents of said container.

2. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a concave container, means for applying heat to the outer convex surface of said container, flexible means adapted to adjust itself to the conformation of the. heated surface, for applying motion to the contents of said container and means for driving the vapor and gas of evaporation downwardly and outwardly of said container.

3. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a hemispherical container, means for applying heat to the outer convex surface of said container, a plurality of horizontal radial arms centrally mountedv within said container, tubular flexible mem-- bers attached to the outer extremities of said arms adapted to adjust themselves to the conformation of the heated surface for or arms shown in my application,

conveyor members a applying motion to the contents of said container, and supporting means for the opposite ends of said tubular members.

4. In an evaporating and dr ing device, in combination with a hemispherical container, means for applying heat externally of said container and a p urality of radial fan arms centrally mounted horizontally thereof and arranged to cause the escape of vapors and gases from the interior of the container, means for imparting rotary unotion to said arms and flexible means attached to the free extremities of said arms said flexible means having a substantially continuous smooth surface adapted to adjust itself to the conformation of the heated surface for applying motion to the contents of said container.

5. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with] a hollow container, means for applying heat externally of said container, a plurality of radial fan arms centrally mounted within said container, depending link members loosely secured to the several outer extremities of the respective fan arms and elongated flexible members suspended by the link members adapted to to depend within said container and to adapt themselves to the conformation of theheated surface for applying motionto the contents of said container.

6. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a hollow container closed at the top, a plurality of radial fan arms centrally mounted within said container, depending members of flexible mate-rial loosely secured to the several outer extremities of the respective arms, said container provided with a circular aperture centrally of the base thereof, an inwardly projecting flanged collar mounted in said aperture, a ring mounted on said collar adapted to secure the lower ends of the depending members.

7. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a vertically disposed hollow heated container closed at the top and provided with an aperture concentrically with the vertical axis thereof at the base of said container, said container having a curved surface a flanged collar mounted internally of said container within said aperture, a loose ring mounted on said collar, a plurality of radial arms mounted at right angles to the vertical axis of said container, link supported sections attached to the extremities of said arms, the lower ends of said sections attached to said loose ring and adapted to adjust themselves to the conformation of the curved surface.

8. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a hemispherical heated container, a plurality of flexible sections constituting conveyors quadrantally disposed to thevertical axis of said container, provided 1 said container.

with supports equatorially of said container said supports taking the form of fan blades and a revoluble support at the base thereof concentricwith the vertical axis of 9. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a container of circular cross-section closed at the top, means for applyin heat to the external surface thereof, flexibe means adapted to sweep the inner concave surface thereof, said container provided w'ithan outlet centrally of the base thereof to permit of the removal of the moisture of evaporation.

10. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a container of circular cross-section having a concave heating surface, fiexible tubes, supports on the container for the tubes a plurality of weights internally of said tubes and means for driving said tubes in the arc of a circle about the concave interior of said container.

l1.- In an evaporating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a concave container, means for applying to the wall thereof a temperature difierent from that of the material to be treated, flexible means adapted to adjust itself to the conformation of the treating surface, for applying motion to the contents of said container, and an open ended vapor exhaust tube disposed centrally of the base of the container.

12. In an evaporating and drying device, the combination with a hollow container 100 closed at the top and provided with; an aperture centrally of the base thereof, a plurality of radial fan arms centrally mounted Within said container, depending link supported sections loosely secured to the outer extremities 105 of the respective arms, said container provided with a circular collar centrally of the base thereof, a ring mounted on said collar adapted to secure the depending ends of the link supported sections, means for ap- 11o plying heat externally of the container, and means for applying rotary motion to said link supported sections.

13. In an evaporating and drying device, in combination with a vertically disposed 116 heated container closed at the top and provided with an aperture concentrically with cal container, means for applying to the wall of the container temperature different from that of the material to be treated, a

horizontally disposed rotatable support ad jacent the top of the-container, chains de-. pending from the ends of said support, and continuous arms suspended from said chains, said arms bein of. yieldable material and adapted to conform to andengage the interior surface of the container, in the rotary movement thereof.

15. In" an evaporating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a substantially hemispherical heated container, and conveyor members arranged adjacent to the interior wall of the container, said conveyor members having a continuous unbrokenyieldable surface to contact with said wall, means for rotating said conveyor members, and means for applying to the wall of.

the container a temperature different from that of the material to be treated.

16. In an'evaporating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a substantially hemispherical container, means for applying to the Wall thereof a temperature different from that of the material to be treated, a rotatable horizontally disposed support adjacent the top of the container, and elongated Weighted members suspended from the ends of said support, said members having a support for the lower ends thereof and having continuous smooth flexible surfaces and constructed and arranged whereby in the rotatable movement of the support they will ield and conform to the interior surface of the container in the rotatable movement'of the latter, to conform to and move over the interior surface of the container, said members having continuous smooth flexible surfaces. v

17. In an evaporating apparatus of the character" described, the combination of a substantially hemispherical container, a vertically disposed tube in the base of the container opening to the outside, a ring loose on the tube, a'rotatable su port adjacent the top of the container, an flexible members connected at one end to said support and at and means supported from said shaft and arranged adjacent to the treating surface and extending longitudinally thereof, said means being of flexible material and constitutlng conveyor members, which said members having a substantially continuous unbroken surface to engage the treating surface.

19. In an evaporating device of the character described, the combination of a container having a tapered treating surface, means for applying to said surface a temperature' different from that of the material being treated, said container having at that end thereof of reduced diameter a centrally disposed outlet for the exhaust of vapors and gases, and a rotatable conveyor member extending longitudinally of the treating surface adjacent thereto, the engaging surfaces of said conveyor member being substantially continuous and smooth and formed of flexible materal whereby to conform to the treating surface substantially throughout, find means for rotating said conveyor memer. s.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of November, 1913. I CHARLES R. MABEE.

1 Witnesses:

H. O. MARTIN, C. A. DnVIS-. 

